Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the gates of those ivory tower admissions offices?
Photo by Nikita LITVINOV on UnsplashI promise it's not that deep.
I'm an admissions officer with about 20 years of experience in higher education. Find out what an admissions officer does and how to get started if you think that career sounds like fun!
What does an admissions officer do?
Applying to college or university can be daunting! Applicants often need guidance and support throughout the process and that's a major part of what admission officers do.
They also help make sure cohorts and programs are filled with the right students — a diverse and complementary group with strong foundations that can learn and grow together.
So what does that actually look like? Well, it can vary, but usually...
What an admissions officer does:
Advise applicants
Calculate GPAs
Research international schools and education systems
Review essays, reference letters, and standardized tests (like the SAT, IELTS, LSAT)
Make recommendations or decisions on admissibility
What an admissions officer doesn't do:
Student recruitment
Marketing and/or advertising
Hard math! (there are usually tools or software to do it for you)
Career counselling
Program or curriculum development
What is the working environment like?
Where do admissions officers work?
Admissions officers are usually found at:
universities
colleges
trade schools
K-12 private schools
This means they usually work with teenagers and young adults, but sometimes mature professionals who are coming back to upskill!
Campuses can range from a few classrooms in an office building to a sprawling mini city! You may be lucky enough to find yourself in a beautiful heritage building or overlook a busy city square!
Photo by Darya Tryfanava on UnsplashWhat's in it for you?
Decent starting salary (~$45,000 in the US & ~$50,000 in Canada )
Pension
Discounted/free education
Interesting and diverse students
Access to library, gyms, pools, recreation
Events, sports, showcases, concerts!
There's got to be a downside...
The processes, policies, and red tape will kill your soul
Big faculty egos = big workplace politics
Straight-up admissions jobs can be boring and repetitive
Not AI-proof
Universities are slow to innovate and slow to kill bad ideas
Sounds interesting...what are the job requirements?
A hiring manager will be looking for...
Critical thinking skills
Research ability
Communication skills for diverse audiences
Experience at a university/college (working or studying!)
Fluency in multiple languages
Experience as an international or exchange student
Good basic math skills (i.e., summing, averaging, converting scales)
Basic technical skills (or ability to learn them!)
Quiz
Let's say you have just finished your degree and are looking for your first full-time job. Which of these might you connect to an admissions officer job application? Select all that apply:
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